Justice Department asks federal judge to release Epstein grand jury transcripts

Driving the news: Trump on Thursday directed AG Bondi to request the transcripts, writing on Truth Social that the case is a "SCAM."

• "Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval. This SCAM, perpetuated by the Democrats, should end, right now!"
• The White House said earlier Thursday that Trump won't "recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case" because the administration has concluded there's no evidence that suggests the case needs to continue.

Context: The ultimate decision to release the files is up to the discretion of Judge Richard Berman, not the administration.

• In the filing, the DOJ said it will work with the U.S. Attorney's Office to "make appropriate redactions of victim-related information and other personal identifying information prior to releasing the transcripts."
• The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York charged Epstein with one count of sex trafficking of minors and one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors in July of 2019.
• A grand jury was convened to determine whether Epstein should be indicted. Those transcripts are typically kept private under federal criminal procedure rules.

• Epstein died in cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide.

Zoom out: Trump's directive came hours after the Wall Street Journal published a story describing a "bawdy" happy birthday letter that the president allegedly wrote to Epstein in 2003.

• Trump denies he wrote the letter, and threatened to sue the WSJ on Thursday night in a Truth Social post.

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Editor's note: This story is updated with more details in the DOJ filing.